'Alcohol Responsibility Deal close to collapse'
Health lobbyists are said to be close to walking away from the Government's Responsibility Deal on alcohol because measures being proposed are not tough enough.
Representatives of around a dozen companies and trade groups have joined a "network" — one of five on public health set up by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley — to discuss where the trade can act on alcohol via a Responsibility Deal.
It is co-chaired by health minister Paul Burstow and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, with members including the British Beer & Pub Association, Mitchells & Butlers, Diageo, Heineken UK, Molson Coors, Portman Group and Drinkaware.
But, the Guardian reports that health groups are unhappy with concessions being made to the industry.
It claims the Responsibility Deal will now be reduced to a series of "pledges" from retailers and producers inlcuding having unit information on 80% of bottles and cans by 2013 and on beer mats in pubs.
One insider told the paper: "Industry has done the bare minimum. This is not going to do anything to lower alcohol-related harm. It allows industry to be seen in a very positive light, working side-by-side with government."
Below cost ban
Health lobbyists are also said to be upset that price was not an issue on the agenda for the group.
Meanwhile, documents seen by the paper reveal that only one offer from thousands would have fallen foul of the Government's proposed duty plus VAT ban on below cost sales.
A survey of more than 3,600 alcohol promotions at four major supermarkets, showed the cost of just one drink would have had to be raised under the new rules — a 70cl bottle of Grant's whisky which sold for £11 in Asda just before Christmas going up to £11.42.
